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Posted by Kim Forrest | May 26, 2017 | Comments Off on Please Be Seated: Check Out the Brand-New Reception Seating Guide!

For couples in the home stretch of wedding planning, creating a seating chart is an important task that can be a source of stress (and procrastination!) for many. The WeddingWire Editorial and Design teams created the new Reception Seating Guide to help couples plan out their reception seating—providing both etiquette advice and style inspiration. This is definitely a great guide to share with your couples in the later stages of wedding planning (the seating chart is usually created during the last few weeks before the big day!).

One of the Editorial Team’s main responsibilities here at WeddingWire is to select real weddings to feature on WeddingWire. Checking our inboxes each morning feels like Christmas – we love that we’ll never know what types of weddings we’ll see on any given day.

I’m often asked by vendors: “How do I get a real wedding published on WeddingWire?” It’s not an easy answer, but there are things all vendors can do to make their submissions more publication-worthy. Here are some of my top tips, but please note that I’m only speaking for our team. Other editors at other sites may have different requirements.

Submit the Right Way: Before sending a real wedding or event to a blog or print publication, read any provided instructions about the types of submissions they are looking for and how submissions should be presented. Be familiar with the site’s style and focus before submitting – you wouldn’t want to submit a wedding that takes place in New York to a blog that only features West Coast weddings (fortunately, WeddingWire features weddings from all over the world!). For WeddingWire’s Real Weddings, our guidelines can be found here.

Get Permission: Make sure you have the OK from all involved parties (particularly the photographer and the couple) before submitting a real wedding. Many sites will contact the newlyweds for quotes, so it’s important that everyone is on board.

Be Clear: We prefer to see photoswith minimal effects and filtering. We want to see your images as clearly as possible, and too many effects can make an image look cluttered.

All About the Mix: We like to see a mix of horizontal and vertical images, and we’d rather see more color images than black and white. While black and white images can be absolutely gorgeous, it’s important that we showcase a wedding’s color scheme in our posts.

It’s All in the Details: Don’t get me wrong, I love a gorgeous couple as much as any editor. But real wedding submissions should focus on detail shots. While of course you should send a few portraits of the couple, make sure your post features plenty of details – from the bouquet to the centerpieces, the cake to the escort cards and invitations. These details should be shot clearly and straight-on so that they’re easy to see.

Be Unique: While there isn’t one particular wedding style that we gravitate to, we tend to select real weddings that surprise us. We’ve seen a lot (and we mean a lot) of weddings and we see many of the same details over and over again. Show us weddings that you’re excited about.

The More, the Merrier: Other editors may disagree, but we would rather edit down your photos ourselves than be left wanting more. As long as you’re not sending repetitive images, more photos = a better, more well-rounded submission.

Tell Their Story: Use both words and pictures to take us through the wedding day. When it comes to text, keep it short and sweet – just a few sentences describing the event is all we need. Let the photos do the talking – be sure to show images from all parts of the day, from getting ready to the ceremony to the cocktail hour through the reception.

Don’t Take It Personally: There are many reasons why we might not accept a submission. Perhaps we’ve been featuring a lot of pink/beach/sparkly weddings lately and want to mix it up. The types of weddings we’re looking for changes throughout the year, so don’t take a rejection too much to heart – and feel free to submit again! Additionally, we keep all submissions on file, so even if your submissions not featured right away, it could be used in the future.

About 15 percent of couples host destination weddings (more than 50 miles away from where they live), and we all know that planning a destination wedding can be quite different than planning a hometown event. The WeddingWire Editorial Team just released a Destination Wedding Guide to inspire and assist couples who are either considering or planning weddings in far-off locales. Inside, you’ll find:

Is a Destination Wedding Right for You? A fun flow chart that helps couples decide which type of destination wedding will best suit their needs.

How to Pick a Location: A step-by-step guide to choosing the perfect wedding locale and venue.

Posted by Kim Forrest | April 12, 2017 | Comments Off on Get Ready to Rock with the WeddingWire Music & Entertainment Guide!

Anyone who’s ever attended a wedding knows that the right music can make or break the experience. That’s why the WeddingWire Editorial Team created the brand-new WeddingWire Music & Entertainment Guide. It’s full of useful information to help couples choose both the right songs and the right professionals for their ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception—definitely worth sharing with your clients. Some of the topics covered in this guide include:

Posted by Kim Forrest | February 28, 2017 | Comments Off on Hot Off the Presses: Two New Guides from WeddingWire

We’re delighted to announce the release of two brand-new guides from the editors at WeddingWire. These guides aim to educate and inspire couples as they plan their weddings.

Our 2017 WeddingWire Budget Guide features brand-new statistics and data, money-saving advice from experts, and a helpful tipping section. We frequently hear that couples can’t get enough budget advice, so this guide is sure to be a must-read for anyone planning a wedding.

We all know that having plentiful and delicious food is a major part of any wedding (no one wants hangry wedding guests!), so the WeddingWire Catering Guide is essential reading material. You’ll find catering trends, budget tips, real wedding menus, and much more. One warning: Don’t attempt to read this guide on an empty stomach!

Check out all of our planning guides on WeddingWire and feel free to share them with your clients. Stay tuned for many more guides to come in 2017!

Posted by Kim Forrest | February 7, 2017 | Comments Off on Say Cheese! The WeddingWire Photography Guide is Here!

The photographer is typically the second vendor a couple books (after their venue), and with so many talented professionals out there, it can be a difficult decision. The brand-new WeddingWire Photography Guide aims to assist and inspire couples as they search for the photographer who best suits their aesthetic, personality, and budget. In this online guide, we cover the logistics of selecting a pro, the details of photography packages and styles and much, much more. This is the WeddingWire Editorial Team’s first guide of 2017 and there are many more planned for the coming year—stay tuned!

Posted by Kim Forrest | December 21, 2016 | Comments Off on Top Wedding Trends for 2017

2017 is shaping up to be an exciting year in the wedding industry, and as always, the Editorial Team here at WeddingWire been looking into our crystal ball to try to determine the top trends for the upcoming season. So we’re excited to share our hot-off-the-presses WeddingWire 2017 Wedding Trend Guide which highlights over 100 of the newest trends.

Just a few of the exciting wedding trends we can’t wait to see more of in 2017:

Throughout 2016, our WeddingWire editors have published more than 600 real weddings showcasing couples and the work of talented wedding professionals from across the country and beyond. Narrowing down the favorite weddings of the year was a tough task, but we were up to the challenge. Today, we’re sharing our editorial team’s top 10 picks with you. We hope you enjoy them and get some inspiration and ideas for your future couples!

Our very first real wedding of 2016 was a complete showstopper, with two stunning brides who said “I do” in a scenic lakefront ceremony. Both brides donned elegant lace wedding gowns, which were complemented by lush fall florals and bright pops of teal.

From the minute we saw Annette and Jamie’s destination wedding, we were itching to plan a trip to Greece. The sunny Cretan wedding took place just steps from the sea—so romantic! To top it all off, the day ended with a performance by traditional Greek dancers.

This Indian-American fusion wedding was filled with vibrant colors, sparkly accents and unique details, including a paper peacock escort card display made by the bride. We love how Charisma decided to break Indian tradition by wearing a white wedding gown for the reception.

From the bride’s Jimmy Choo high heels to the candle-lined aisle, everything about this New Orleans wedding exudes elegance. Staying true to The Big Easy, the newlyweds, their guests and a brass band paraded through the French Quarter during a “second line” at the end of the night.

Kim Forrest is one of WeddingWire’s editors. She manages content creation on both WeddingWire and EventWire. Kim has been writing about weddings for nearly a decade, and has been quoted as a weddings expert in the New York Times, Washington Post, Slate, and more.

One of the best parts of the WeddingWire Editorial Team’s job is reviewing all of the real wedding submissions we receive. We particularly are inspired by weddings with strong cultural elements, as we want to share a diverse group of weddings and wedding inspiration with our readers. We also to want to educate our users about all kinds of wedding customs and traditions, which are so rich, varied, and exciting.

Below are some of our favorite recent multicultural real weddings to inspire your next event! And if you’re interested in submitting a real wedding, engagement shoot, or styled shoot for the opportunity to be published, please visit RealWeds.com for more information.

Kim Forrest is one of WeddingWire’s editors. She manages content creation on both WeddingWire and EventWire. Kim has been writing about weddings for nearly a decade, and has been quoted as a weddings expert in the New York Times, Washington Post, Slate, and more.

2015 was a groundbreaking year in weddings—from the Supreme Court legalizing same-sex marriage to the nuptials of such celebs as Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux, Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello, and many more. We are looking forward to seeing what’s to come in 2016—and want to share some of our picks for the top wedding trends for the New Year!

GIF Booths

Of course, we all love photo booths at weddings—it’s a fun activity for guests and provides a personalized favor. GIF Booths are an extension of that—creating short moving clips for guests to share on social media.

While many brides are still loving the loose, romantic look, we’re also seeing more and more brides wearing their hair in more structured ballerina-inspired updos. We love how this style keeps the hair out of the face all night long!

Doughnuts

Of course, we love any sweet treat, but we think doughnuts will be the dessert of the moment in 2016.

2015 was the year of the wedding hashtag, with couples asking their guests to use aspecial hashtag when sharing wedding photos on social media. In 2016, we predict social media expanding even further with couples and guests using Snapchat and Periscope to document the day.

We’re particularly proud of this issue, as it includes helpful advice and inspiration not just for engaged couples and wedding professionals, but for wedding guests as well! You’ll find the work of many wedding and event professionals from around the country in the book, too.

Here is a sampling of the top stories from this issue:

A fall-themed styled shoot, produced by the WeddingWire team, and featuring the work of talented wedding professionals.

Kim Forrest is one of WeddingWire’s editors. She manages content creation on both WeddingWire and EventWire. Kim has been writing about weddings for nearly a decade, and has been quoted as a weddings expert in the New York Times, Washington Post, Slate, and more.

We can’t believe 2014 is almost over – and what a wonderful year it’s been in the wedding world! As the Editorial Team is hard at work finishing our WinterBook (look for it in January), we’re also looking ahead at the wedding trends we think will be big in 2015.

We hope these ideas will help you prepare for all of those newly-engaged 2015 couples coming your way very soon!

From table runners to decorative wreaths, garlands, and more, we’re seeing greenery emerge from the sidelines and into the spotlight. It’s versatile, and provides an Old World look that’s so chic right now. In this same vein, we’re betting on animal topiaries becoming a hot decor item in the New Year.

Miniature Wedding Cakes

Instead of or in addition to featuring a multi-tiered wedding cake, couples are also serving several smaller cakes to offer a wide variety of flavors. We’ve even seen a cake displayed on each reception table for an extra-sweet touch.